Veljko Paunovic: Reading can’t promise to keep John Swift
Reading boss Veljko Paunovic believes that reported Leeds United target John Swift could part ways with the club.
According to The Star, Leeds, along with a few other Premier League clubs are keen on signing the 26-year-old English midfielder.
He’s scored eight goals and provided six assists in the league this season and has drawn interest from the likes of Brentford and Newcastle as well.
Manager Paunovic was quizzed about the midfielder’s future recently: “Of course we will try to keep him, but this is football,” he said, via Get Reading.
“We all know what the business of football is, I can’t give that promise to anyone, given our circumstances.
“What we have to look at is as long as he’s here, whether it’s only this season, or [if] we are capable of getting him to sign a long-term deal, we have to enjoy him and provide him with everything he needs so he can perform for us.”
There is a chance
The fact that the Reading boss is unwilling to state that he’s committed to staying at the club is big news.
Leeds have been trying to sign a midfielder since last summer when Rodrigo de Paul and Michael Cuisance appeared to be players they were keen on signing.
The Whites have moved on since and have been linked to different players, but they’ve failed to get one over the line.
It’s proven to be their Achilles heel and other players have been asked to play in unfamiliar roles, which has affected the balance of the team.
Swift could be a smart and more importantly cheap signing and Victor Orta needs to move quickly to get him over the line.
It’s not going to be easy when a super-rich club like Newcastle have also been linked so acting early could prove to be beneficial for the Whites.
In other Leeds United news, an ‘Exceptional’ Whites player is unlikely to feature v Norwich after Friday development